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Canon

EOS-1D X Mark II

Legendary sports DSLR with 14fps and 4K DCI — still seen on sidelines.

$5,999

Launch price

Released Feb 2016

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vs

Nikon

D5

Nikon FX flagship sports DSLR with 20.8MP sensor, 153-point AF, 12fps burst, 4K UHD video, and dual XQD/CF slots — predecessor to D6.

$6,499

Launch price

Released Jan 2016

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Released within a month of each other.

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Wins

2categories

EOS-1D X Mark II

★ Sports & Action★ Wildlife

Wins

2categories

D5

★ Wildlife★ Sports & Action

14 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

EOS-1D X Mark II wins 2 categories·D5 wins 2 categories
  • AEOS-1D X Mark II has higher AF points / zones (1053 vs 493)
  • AEOS-1D X Mark II has higher AF frame coverage (100 % vs 90 %)
  • BD5 has higher Resolution (20.8 MP vs 20.2 MP)
  • BD5 has lower AF low-light limit (-8.5 EV vs -6.5 EV)

Key specs at a glance

EOS-1D X Mark IID5
Resolution20.2 MP20.8 MP
SensorFull FrameFull Frame
ISO max51,20051,200
Burst30 fps30 fps
4K60 fps60 fps
IBIS8-stop8-stop
Weight720 g720 g
Battery520 shots520 shots

Size and weight, to scale

EOS-1D X Mark II

138 × 98 × 88 mm

720 g (1.59 lb / 25.40 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

D5

138 × 98 × 88 mm

720 g (1.59 lb / 25.40 oz)

EOS-1D X Mark II and D5 share virtually identical body dimensions.

EOS-1D X Mark II and D5 weigh the same.

Depth (front-to-back): 88mm EOS-1D X Mark II · 88mm D5

Sensor size, to scale

EOS-1D X Mark II

36 × 24 mm · Full Frame

864 mm² area

D5

36 × 24 mm · Full Frame

864 mm² area

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

EOS-1D X Mark II

Canon RF

105+

native lenses available

45 first-party60 third-party

D5

✓ more lenses

Nikon F

270+

native lenses available

90 first-party180 third-party

Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseEOS-1D X Mark IID5
Portrait
6.5Good
6.5Good
Sports & Action
10.0Excellent✓ wins
9.5Excellent
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good
6.0Good
Landscape
5.5Fair
5.5Fair
Travel
6.0Good
6.0Good
Wildlife
10.0Excellent
10.0Excellent
Vlogging
5.5Fair
5.5Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

EOS-1D X Mark II

  • AF points / zones

    1053 vs 493 — higher is better

  • AF frame coverage

    100 % vs 90 % — higher is better

Reasons to choose

D5

  • AF low-light limit

    -8.5 EV vs -6.5 EV — lower is better

  • Resolution

    20.8 MP vs 20.2 MP — higher is better

Both cameras share

  • ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
  • ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
  • ✓ISO max (native) — Both 51,200
  • ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
  • ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
  • ✓Burst (mechanical) — Both 12 fps

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

EOS-1D X Mark II

Pros

  • ✓14fps mechanical
  • ✓Pro tank build
  • ✓4K DCI video

Cons

  • –Discontinued
  • –20MP
  • –Very heavy

D5

Pros

  • ✓153-point Multi-CAM 20K AF
  • ✓12fps (14fps mirror-up)
  • ✓4K UHD + 1080p60 video
  • ✓Pro tank build + sealing
  • ✓3,780-shot EN-EL18a battery

Cons

  • –20.8MP only
  • –Superseded by D6
  • –Very heavy (1.4 kg)
  • –Premium flagship pricing

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the EOS-1D X Mark II and D5 at major authorized retailers.

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II

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Nikon D5

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Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

✓ = category winner

EOS-1D X Mark II
D5
Resolution
20.2 MP
20.8 MP✓+3%
Sensor type
Full Frame CMOS
Full Frame CMOS
Sensor size
36.0 × 24.0 mm
36.0 × 24.0 mm
AA filter
Yes
Yes
EOS-1D X Mark II
D5
Processor
DIGIC X
EXPEED 5
EOS-1D X Mark II
D5
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
51,200
51,200
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
102,400
EOS-1D X Mark II
D5
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/8000 sec
Max electronic speed
1/32000 sec
1/32000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for sports, EOS-1D X Mark II or D5?

EOS-1D X Mark II scores 10.0/10 versus 9.5/10 for D5 — 30fps burst — pro-level action capture.

What's the resolution difference between the EOS-1D X Mark II and D5?

EOS-1D X Mark II is 20.2 MP and D5 is 20.8 MP, so the D5 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the EOS-1D X Mark II and D5 have in-body image stabilization?

EOS-1D X Mark II has 8-stop in-body image stabilization, while D5 has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the EOS-1D X Mark II or the D5?

EOS-1D X Mark II reaches 30 fps electronic. D5 reaches 30 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the EOS-1D X Mark II and D5?

Both bodies weigh roughly 720 g.

Do the EOS-1D X Mark II and D5 record 4K video?

EOS-1D X Mark II: 4K up to 60p. D5: 4K up to 60p.

Are the EOS-1D X Mark II and D5 weather sealed?

EOS-1D X Mark II: Yes. D5: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 520 shots (CIPA) for the EOS-1D X Mark II and 520 shots for the D5, giving the D5 the edge.

How much does each cost?

EOS-1D X Mark II launched at $5,999 and D5 at $6,499. The EOS-1D X Mark II is $500 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way EOS-1D X Mark II vs D5 vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.